Apparatus for a wrap-around accessory

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a wrap-around accessory for carrying devices such as a handbag, purse, pocketbook, briefcases, tote and other carrying bags or luggage. The wrap-around accessory is configured to cover the frayed area of the carrying device such as a handle or strap of the handbag to provide aesthetic appearance to the handbag. The wrap-around accessory is further configured to prevent fraying of the handle or strap of the carrying device. The wrap-around accessory comprises a wrap portion including an outer surface and an inner surface, and a fastener means. The wrap portion is adapted to conform around the handle of the carrying device. The outer surface comprises two opposing ends extending from the wrap portion. The fastening means disposed at the opposing ends of the wrap is adapted to securely hold the wrap portion around the handle or strap.

CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/638,585 filed on Mar. 5, 2018. The above provisionalapplication is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to accessories for carryingdevices such as handbags, purses, totes and the like, and, moreparticularly, to a wrap-around accessory, which securely wraps aroundthe handle or strap of the carrying device such as handbag, purses,totes and the like to prevent fraying or to cover the frayed area of thehandle or strap.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Carrying devices, such as handbags, purses, pocketbooks, briefcases,totes and other carrying bags or luggage, are items which people wish tokeep close. These devices are used to carry items that are necessary tosupport their daily activities, such as: credit cards, photographs,identification credentials, glasses, checkbook, wallet, purse, keys,tissues, stamps, note paper, personal address and phone directories, andthe like. As these carrying devices are an everyday accessory for manypeople, various kinds of designs are developed and designed to providecomfort and aesthetical look while carrying such. The carrying devicecomes in many sizes, shapes, and materials.

The handle or strap is a part or attachment of the carrying device,which is, given its constant use, one of the first parts to wear out orfray. This handle part gets damaged or frayed easily due to the frequenttouching and the friction of a user's hands on the handles whilecarrying the carrying device. In addition, dirt, oils or lotions fromthe user's hands could also accumulate on the handles or straps. Thiscould cause discoloring and oxidation of the handles or straps. Manyhandbags could be expensive, thus, keeping them in pristine condition isvery important. Further, some people are passionate about preserving andmaintaining the shape and condition of these carrying devices. Someusers of handbags intend to resell handbags in a secondary or auctionmarket and care for the handbag to prevent decrease of the resale value.

Some handbags have metal or other hard components or chains at thehandle which can scratch, abrade, or cause indentation or other damageto the hands of the user. Also, when heavy items, such as cans,electronics or bottles, are carried in the handbags, the handles stretchto form relatively thin bands which apply substantial forcesconcentrated along narrow areas or regions of the hand, which can bepainful when the bags are carried over for a period or distance. Thestretching of handle portion leads to fraying of handle edge. Somepeople cannot afford to buy a new handbag and utilize the bag having anunattractive frayed handle.

Therefore, there is a need for an easily attachable/detachablewrap-around accessory, which securely wraps around the handle or strapof the carrying device to prevent fraying or to cover the frayed area ofthe handle or strap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wrap-around accessory for carryingdevices such as handbag, purse, pocketbook, briefcases, tote and othercarrying bags or luggage. The wrap-around accessory is configured tocover the frayed portion or part of the carrying device, such as ahandle or strap of the carrying device. The wrap-around accessory isfurther configured to prevent fraying of the handle or strap of thecarrying device.

The wrap-around accessory comprises a wrap portion and a fastener means.The wrap portion is configured to conform at a portion of the carryingdevice such as the handle or strap, which requires protection. Thewrap-around accessory comprises an outer surface and an inner surface.The outer surface of the wrap-around accessory comprises two opposingends, which extends from the wrap portion. In an embodiment, thefastener means is disposed at the opposing ends of the wrap-aroundaccessory. The fastener means is configured to fasten or secure the wrapportion around the handle or strap of the carrying device. Further, thefastening means could be readily and easily opened and/or adjusted asand where needed. In an embodiment, the fastener means could be a hookand loop type fastener, button type fastener, snap-fit type fastener,zipper type fastener or any other type of fastener.

In one embodiment, the wrap-around accessory could be rectangular,square, circular or any other shape. In another embodiment, thewrap-around accessory is made of a pliable material. In anotherembodiment, the wrap around accessory could be made of a nylon material,water-resistant material, water-repellent or leather material. Inanother embodiment, the wrap-around accessory is of any color to matchthe color, pattern or design of different types of carrying devices. Inanother embodiment, the wrap-around accessory comprises printed patternsto match with the design of the carrying devices. In another embodiment,the wrap-around accessory could be of any length and width for theholding characteristics and for the flexibility desired.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description and accompanyingdrawings. It should be understood, however, that the detaileddescription and the specific examples, while indicating specificembodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only,since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope ofthe invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from thisdetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and theadvantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1A exemplarily illustrates a wrap-around accessory with hook andloop type fastener in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B exemplarily illustrates the wrap-around accessory with snap-fittype fastener in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1C exemplarily illustrates the wrap-around accessory with buttontype fastener in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1D exemplarily illustrates the wrap-around accessory with zippertype fastener in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 exemplarily illustrates a carrying device installed with thewrap-around accessory in an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A description of embodiments of the present invention will now be given.It is expected that the present invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from its spirit or essentialcharacteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in allrespects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of theinvention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than bythe foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning andrange of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within theirscope.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, a wrap-around accessory 100 for carryingdevice such as handbag, pocketbook, briefcases, and other carrying bagsor luggage is disclosed, in an embodiment of the present invention. Thewrap-around accessory 100 is configured to wrap around a handle of thecarrying device. The wrap-around accessory 100 is further configured toprevent fraying of the handle of the carrying device. The wrap-aroundaccessory 100 is further configured to cover the frayed area such as ahandle of the carrying device to provide aesthetic appearance to thecarrying device.

The wrap-around accessory 100 comprises a wrap portion 102 and afastener means 104. The wrap portion 102 is configured to conform at aportion of the carrying device such as handle, which requiresprotection. The wrap-around accessory 100 comprises an outer surface andan inner surface. The outer surface of the wrap-around accessory 100comprises two opposing ends 106, which extends from the wrap portion102. In an embodiment, the fastener means 104 is disposed at theopposing ends 106 of the wrap-around accessory 100. The fastener means104 is configured to fasten or secure the wrap portion 102 around thehandle of the carrying device.

In one embodiment, the wrap-around accessory 100 is of rectangularshape. In one embodiment, the wrap-around accessory 100 is of circularshape. In another embodiment, the wrap-around accessory 100 could be ofany shape. In an embodiment, the fastener means 104 is a hook and loopfastener as shown in FIG. 1A. In one embodiment, the fastener means 104is a snap-fit type fastener as shown in FIG. 1B. In another embodiment,the fastener means 104 is a button type fastener as shown in FIG. 1C. Inyet another embodiment, the fastener means 104 is a zipper type as shownin FIG. 1D. In yet another embodiment, the fastener means 104 could beany other type of fastener.

The fastener means 104 is configured to close and hold the opposing ends106 of the wrap portion 102 securely on the warped area of the carryingdevice, while still allowing for some adjustment, and would not open orgap with normal and expected use. Further, the fastening means 104 couldbe readily and easily opened and/or adjusted as and where needed. Thefastener means 104 is sufficiently light in weight, pliable and flexiblefor use in and with the carrying device. In an embodiment, the presentinvention comprises pairs of wrap-around accessory 100 to secure over apair of handle of the carrying device, respectively. In anotherembodiment, the wrap-around accessory 100 is sized to securely wraparound by adjoining at least two handles of the carrying device. FIG. 2exemplarily illustrates the carrying device installed with thewrap-around accessory 100 in an embodiment of the present invention.

In one embodiment, the wrap-around accessory 100 is made of pliablematerial. In another embodiment, the wrap-around accessory 100 is madeof nylon or leather. In another embodiment, the wrap-around accessory100 is made of synthetic material, cloth or any other material capableof being wrapped around a purse handle or strap. In another embodiment,the wrap-around accessory 100 is made of water-resistant fabric. Inanother embodiment, the wrap-around accessory 100 is made ofwater-repellent material.

In another embodiment, the wrap-around accessory 100 is of any color tomatch the color, pattern or design of different carrying devices. Inanother embodiment, the wrap-around accessory 100 comprises printedpatterns to match with the design of the carrying devices.

In another embodiment, the wrap-around accessory 100 could be of anylength and width for the holding characteristics and the flexibilitydesired. In another embodiment, the wrap-around assembly 100 could befastened to handles made of any material such as metal, wood.

Advantageously, the wrap-around accessory 100 of the present inventionenables to cover the frayed area to provide aesthetic appearance to thecarrying device, prevents fraying of the handle of the carrying device,minimizes the discomfort or pain typically encountered when carryingsuch bags by hand, and protects or preserves the condition of thecarrying device.

Although a single embodiment of the invention has been illustrated inthe accompanying drawings and described in the above detaileddescription, it will be understood that the invention is not limited tothe embodiment developed herein, but is capable of numerousrearrangements, modifications, substitutions of parts and elementswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The foregoing description comprises illustrative embodiments of thepresent invention. Having thus described exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art thatthe within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various otheralternatives, adaptations, and modifications could be made within thescope of the present invention. Merely listing or numbering the steps ofa method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on theorder of the steps of that method. Many modifications and otherembodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the artto which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachingspresented in the foregoing descriptions. Although specific terms couldbe employed herein, they are used only in generic and descriptive senseand not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present inventionis not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wrap-around accessory for a carrying device,comprising: a wrap portion comprising an outer surface and an innersurface adapted to conform around a handle of the carrying device,wherein the outer surface comprises two opposing ends extending from thewrap portion; and, a fastening means disposed at the opposing ends ofthe wrap portion adapted to secure the wrap portion around the handle.2. The wrap-around accessory according to claim 1, wherein the fasteningmeans is at least one of a hook and loop fastener, a zipper fastener, asnap-fit fastener and a button type fastener.
 3. The wrap-aroundaccessory according to claim 1, wherein the wrap portion is a planarpiece of foldable material.
 4. The wrap-around accessory according toclaim 1, wherein the wrap portion is one of a rectangular, square, andcircular shape.
 5. The wrap-around accessory according to claim 1,wherein the wrap portion is made of one of a nylon material, awater-resistant material, a water-repellent material, and a leathermaterial.
 6. The wrap-around accessory according to claim 1, wherein thewrap portion is of a color to match at least one of a color, pattern ordesign of the carrying device.
 7. The wrap-around accessory according toclaim 1, wherein the wrap portion is of a printed pattern to match witha design of the carrying device.
 8. The wrap-around accessory accordingto claim 1, wherein the wrap portion is of any length and width to matchcharacteristics of the handle of the carrying device.
 9. The wrap-aroundaccessory according to claim 1, wherein the fastener means is configuredto close and hold the opposing ends of the wrap portion securely on afrayed area of the handle of the carrying device.
 10. The wrap-aroundaccessory according to claim 1, wherein the fastener means is readilyand easily opened and adjusted as and where needed.
 11. The wrap-aroundaccessory according to claim 1, wherein the fastener means issufficiently light in weight, pliable and flexible for use in and withthe carrying device.
 12. The wrap-around accessory according to claim 1,further comprising a pair of wrap-around accessories wherein each one issecured over one of a pair of handles of the carrying device.
 13. Thewrap-around accessory according to claim 1, wherein the wrap-aroundaccessory is sized to securely wrap around by adjoining at least twohandles of the carrying device.
 14. A wrap apparatus to protect acarrying device handle, the wrap apparatus comprising: an inner surfaceadapted to conform around the carrying device handle; an outer surface,attached to the inner surface, wherein the outer surface comprises twoends which, when the inner surface is conformed around the carryingdevice handle, oppose one another; and, a fastening means disposed atthe opposing ends of the outer surface, wherein the fastening means isadapted to secure the wrap apparatus around the carrying device handle.15. The wrap apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the fasteningmeans is at least one of a hook and loop fastener, a zipper fastener, asnap-fit fastener and a button type fastener.
 16. The wrap apparatusaccording to claim 14, wherein the fastener means is configured to closeand hold the opposing ends of the outer surface of the wrap apparatussecurely on a frayed area of the carrying device handle.
 17. The wrapapparatus according to claim 14, wherein the fastener means is readilyand easily opened and adjusted as and where needed.
 18. The wrapapparatus according to claim 14, wherein the fastener means issufficiently light in weight, pliable and flexible for use in and withthe carrying device.
 19. The wrap apparatus according to claim 14,wherein the wrap apparatus is sized to securely wrap around by adjoiningat least two carrying device handles.